Machine for automatically positioning products into receiver alveoli

ABSTRACT

A machine for automatically setting in place products into receiver alveoli comprises essentially an alignment device (10) for aligning the products (11), which device is designed to arrange the products in lines in a plurality of columns, a device (12) for depositing aligned products into the receiver alveoli (14) and a device (13) for transporting said alveoli. The deposition device comprises a dispenser member (17) comprising a feed pin wheel comprised of a drum (19) provided with pins (20) radially arranged at the periphery of said drum. A control mechanism comprising a drive wheel (24) fitted with a roller (23) drives the feed pin wheel via rollers (22) mounted on a disc (21) which is integral with the drum (19). The device for transporting the receiver alveoli (14) comprises essentially a chain (35) provided with levers (37 ) arranged to pivot about an axis (38) due to the existence of a guide (40) which cooperates with follower members (39) integral with the levers (37).

The present invention relates to a machine for automatically positioningproducts, in particular food products, such as biscuits, petit fours orthe like, in at least one layer, in receiver alveoli. This machinecomprises at least one endless conveyor belt to transport the randomlypositioned products, an alignment apparatus of these products, anapparatus for transport of the alveoli and an apparatus for depositingthe products in the alveoli.

The problem of placing certain alimentary products particularlybiscuits, petit fours, or the like, having irregular shapes, has not yetbeen resolved in a satisfactory manner. The alignment of the biscuits ona transport belt normally occurs in a manual fashion and the placementin a box, if it is not performed manually, occurs by means of a movablearm provided with suction grips. A manual intervention constitutes amajor disadvantage because it occurs along a line where all the otheroperations can be automated. Recourse to a moveable arm utilizingsuction grips considerably limits the production rate and cannot beapplied to the manipulation of certain products.

The present invention proposes overcoming these disadvantages byproviding an entirely automated machine to align and place into a boxfood products and particularly biscuits which can have a variety ofirregular shapes. to this end, the machine for the automatic positioningof products, according to the invention, is characterized in that thealignment apparatus of the products comprises at least one flexibleendless element, positioned parallel above the conveyor belt and drivenin the opposite direction. This flexible endless element being equippedwith at least one series of pins, aligned in the direction of theirdisplacement and mounted in a manner so as to point towards the surfaceof the conveyor belt, the free ends of the pins being positioned at adistance from the surface of the conveyor belt less than the thicknessof the transported products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one preferred embodiment, the flexible endless elementcomprises one endless belt provided with at least one line of pinssubstantially perpendicular to its plane.

According to one preferred embodiment, the flexible endless elementcomprises at least two endless chains mounted parallel to one anotherand connected by transverse bars perpendicular to these chains, each ofthese bars being equipped with a series of pins positioned at regularintervals to form pin lines parallel to the chains, each pin beingoriented towards the surface of the conveyor belt of the products.

In this embodiment, each pin preferably comprises means for adjustmentadapted to allow for the adjustment of its height, its inclination withrespect to the surface of the endless conveyor belt of the products andits distance with respect to the adjacent pins situated on the sametransverse bar.

Each of the endless chains preferably comprises attachment emans adaptedto adjust the spacing between the transverse bars.

The transport apparatus of the receptor alveoli preferably comprises atleast one endless chain carrying a series of pivotable levers of whichone end is journalled on the chain and whose other end carries areceptor alveolus. Each of the levers is equipped with a followingelement adapted to follow a guidance element and to cooperate with thefollower element integral with each lever to assure a predeterminedinclination of this lever. This follower element is preferablyconstituted by a slide of variable inclination.

The apparatus for depositing products in the receptor alveoli comprisespreferably a distributor element adapted to pick up the products broughtby the endless conveyor belt, a swivelling slide to direct the productsof the distributor towards the alveoli, and control means forcontrolling the distributor element and the orientation of the slide.

The distributor element preferably comprises at least one pin wheelconstituted by a drum provided with pins positioned radially to theperipheral surface of the drum, these pins being regularly spaced andtheir end being separated from the endless conveyor belt by a free spaceless than the thickness of the products conveyed.

The control means of the distributor preferably comprise a disk,provided along its periphery with at least one protruding elementadapted to enter into contact with a complimentary element connected tothe distributor element, and adapted to make the latter turn at leastthrough an arc corresponding to the distance between two pins, thisdistance being substantially equal to the length of a transportedproduct.

The pin wheel comprises as many complimentary elements as pinspositioned on a single circle described on the peripheral surface of thedrum.

The disk of the control means of the distributor element comprises asmany protruding elements as alveoli receiving products.

The deposition means preferably comprise a central cam, a leverassociated with this cam and the transfer slide of the products, thislever being supported on the cam to adjust the inclination of the slidewith respect to the receptor alveoli as a function of the angularposition of the cam.

The deposition means preferably comprise a shock absorption element ofthe products comprising at least one flexible ribbon, free at one of itsends and attached at its other end such that it hangs freely in eachreceptor alveolus when the latter is in its filling position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood with reference to thedescription of one embodiment and of the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partial schematic view of the machine illustrating moreparticularly the deposition apparatus and the apparatus for transport ofthe alveoli,

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of an alternative to the apparatusillustrated by FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic elevational view of the alignment apparatus ofthe products,

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of this apparatus, and

FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed view of the pins of the alignmentapparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The machine illustrated by FIG. 1 principally comprises an apparatus 10for aligning products 11 adapted to arrange the products in a line inseveral columns, a deposition apparatus 12 of the aligned products and atransport apparatus 13 of the alveoli 14 adapted to contain the saidproducts 11.

The alignment apparatus 10, which will be described in greater detailwith reference to FIGS. 3-5, is composed particularly of an endlessconveyor belt 15, for example of the flexible belt type, continuouslydriven, and of a plurality of longitudinal fixed guides 16 (see FIG. 4).The fixed guides are adapted to channel products 11 and to transportthem from a supply zone where they are randomly arranged, towards atake-up zone by the deposition apparatus 12, where they are arrangedend-to-end in a plurality of columns parallel to one another.

In the example described, the products are driven by friction by theconveyor band 15, aligned with the aid of pins serving as a pusher andchanneled by the fixed guides 16 which bring them to the vicinity of thedeposition apparatus 12.

This deposition apparatus comprises essentially a distribution element17 adapted to take up the products brought by the endless conveyor belt15 and a slide 18 for transfer of the products adapted to direct theproducts of the distributor towards the receptor alveoli 14. Thedistribution element comprises at least one pin wheel, this wheel beingconstituted by a cylindrical drum 19 provided with pins 20 positionedradially to the periphery of this drum. Pins 20 are regularly spaced onseveral circular lines parallel to one another and outlined on theperiphery of the drum. They are thus grouped in a plurality of series ofwhich each corresponds to a guidance channel of the products defined bytwo longitudinally fixed guides 16 of alignment apparatus 10 (describedbelow).

Pins 20 are responsible for pushing products 11 to slide 18 on whichthey slide directly into the receptor alveoli 14.

Drum 19 of distribution element 17 is associated with a disk 21 whichcarries a series of protruding elements, preferably rollers 22, mountedon one of the surfaces of this disk, and regularly spaced along thelength of its periphery. The number of rollers 22 is equal to the numberof pins of the same series. These rollers are adapted to cooperate withcomplimentary elements, preferably drive rollers 23 mounted on a drivedisk 24, coupled to a drive wheel 25 of a motor (not shown). Rollers 23are mounted on a surface of disk 24, along the length of its periphery,and their number is equal to the number of products adapted to be placedin a single receptor alveoli. In effect, each turn of disk 24 defining aturn of the machine corresponds to a step of the advancement mechanismof the receptor alveoli. In the example illustrated, disk 24 has fivedrive rollers 23. At each turn of disk 24, a drive roller takes up aroller 22 of disk 21, such that for a turn of the said disk 24, a totalof five products are pushed by the pins of a single series and depositedin a receptor alveolus.

At the center of the drive disk 24 is mounted a cam 26 on which issupported a lever 27 integral with a socket 28 mounted on a fixed axis29, and adapted to freely pivot around this axis. This socket 28 isintegral with a second lever 30 which carries at its free end the slide18 for transport of products 18. The return force due to the weight ofslide 11 tends to make the socket pivot towards the right in the figure,which serves to maintain lever 27 resting against cam 26.

A comb 31 comprises a certain number of arms which extend between theparallel series of pins 20. It serves to eliminate the products whichpresent themselves in the deposit zone and which are not aligned behindone another, particularly products which overlap. The comb is preferablypivotable to facilitate access to the components mounted below.

A flap 32 journalled on a fixed axis 33 and equipped with an adjustableweight 34, assures the braking of the products on the ramp constitutedby slide 18 for transfer of the products. It can be mounted under comb31.

The deposition apparatus, described above, is of very simple design andof particularly economic construction. The control mechanism of thedistributor element can easily be transformed as required. The additionor removal of one or more rollers 23 makes it possible to increase orreduce by one or more the number of products deposited in each receptoralveolus. The shape of the cam makes it possible to orient inappropriate fashion the transfer slide of the product and to vary thisorientation during filling of the alveoli, such that this filling occursin the most appropriate fashion. If necessary, braking force of theproducts can be adjusted depending upon the mass of the counterweight 34attached to flap 32.

The transport apparatus of the alveoli 14 essentially comprises anendless chain 35 driven in continuous or discontinuous rotation, in onedirection or the other, along a trajectory defined by a rotation pathalong the length of which this chain moves. On each chain is mountedsupports 36 which carry alveoli 14. These supports are attached to thefree ends of levers 37, journalled at their other ends on axes 38 whichconstitute the axes of the links of chain 35. At their other free end,the levers carry a follower element 39 which is adapted to be supportedon a guidance element 40. This guidance element defines the trajectoryfollowed by the free ends of levers 37, while the trajectory of theother ends of these levers corresponding to the axes 38 of the links, isdefined by the rotation path of the chain. By a relative appropriatearrangement of these two guidance elements, it is possible to adjust theinclination of the receptor alveoli such that the reception of theproducts is assured in the most appropriate fashion. By theinterposition of a hollow or bump, at a predetermined location along therotation path of the chain, it is possible to locally modify theinclination of the alveoli so as to assure the best positioning of theproduct. Such a hollow or bump can, for example, be formed by means ofan adjustable lever 41. After their filling, the receptor alveoli 14 aredeposited on a receptor plate 42 from which they are evacuated by anevacuation transporter belt 43.

To cushion the fall of the products in the alveoli and to guide them inthe course of this fall, a flexible band 44 is suspended under comb 31and hangs downwardly such that its free end is positioned at the bottomand along the length of the rear wall of the alveolus which receives theproducts. The flexible band can be made of cloth, fiberglass or anysynthetic or natural fiber.

The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2 shows a deposition apparatussubstantially identical to that of FIG. 1. The deposition apparatus isassociated with an apparatus for transporting receptor alveoli which isadapted to allow for the juxtaposed vertical positioning of products 11in the receptor alveoli 14. As was previously explained, the principleof associating the rotation path of the transport chain of the alveolireceptors and of a guidance element of this chain allows greatflexibility in providing these transport means of the alveoli. As isshown in the figure, alveoli 14 transported in the direction of thearrow A are displaced along the length of a ramp 50, and are presentedunder the transfer slide 18 of the products with an inclination whichallows for the positioning of products 11 juxtaposed and standing ontheir ends.

To guide the products during their transfer on slide 18, the depositapparatus comprises a deflector 51, mounted for example between comb 31and flap 32.

The other components of this apparatus are identical to those shown byFIG. 1 and will not be described in greater detail in this text.

With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the alignment apparatus 10 is essentiallycomposed of a pin chain 60 which comprises in fact two lateral chains 61held parallel to each other by two pairs of pinions 62 and 63.Transverse bars 64 are mounted on these chains perpendicular to thedirection of displacement of the products. The direction of displacementis defined by the arrow B indicating the direction of displacement ofthe conveyor belt 15. This direction is opposite to the direction ofdisplacement of the pin chain 60, shown by arrow C.

The transverse bars 64 carry a series of pins comprising adjustablesupports 65 each carrying a round or shaped shaft section 66. The shaftsections 66 can be adjusted in height and blocked into position by meansof a blockage screw 67. The adjustable supports 65 can be positionedalong the length of the transverse bars 64 and attached in the selectedposition by means of a second blockage screw 68. This means particularlymakes it possible to select the number of pins per transverse bar, todetermine the spacing between the pins depending upon the nature anddimensions of the products to be aligned and likewise to adjust theinclination of these pins as shown in the figure in dashed lines.Furthermore, the transverse bars are attached to chains 61 by attachmentmeans 69, adapted to adjust the spacing of bars 64 with respect to oneanother.

The products are moved by friction by the conveyor belt 15. The pinchain 60 acts as a comb traversing the mass of products depositedrandomly and combs these products in a manner so as to align them toform columns which will thereafter be channeled between guides 16.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described butcan undergo various modifications and present itself in variousalternatives obvious to one with skill in the art. In the exampledescribed, the transport apparatus of the alveoli circulates along adirection substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of theproducts on the conveyor belt. However, to package certain products itmay be desirable to displace the transport chain of the receptor alveolialong a direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of theproducts. Furthermore, the transport apparatus of the alveoli comprisesa chain 35 and a guidance element 40 of elongated form can be replacedby a transport apparatus where the journal axes 38 of the levers aremounted on a disk and/or the guidance element has a more or lesscircular shape.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine for automatically positioning randomlypositioned products, in at least one layer in receptor alveoli, saidmachine comprising at least one endless conveyor belt having a surfacefor transporting said randomly positioned products in one direction,alignment means for aligning said products, means for transporting saidalveoli, deposit means for depositing said products in said alveoli,said alignment means comprising at least one flexible endless elementpositioned parallel above said endless conveyor belt and driven in adirection of displacement reverse to said one direction, said flexibleendless element being equipped with at least one series of pins havingfree ends aligned in said direction of displacement and mounted suchthat said free ends generally point towards the surface of said endlessconveyor belt, said free ends of said pins being spaced from saidsurface of said endless conveyor belt by a distance less than athickness of said transported products.
 2. The machine according toclaim 1, wherein said flexible endless element comprises an endless beltprovided with at least one line of pins substantially perpendicular to aplane parallel to a surface of said endless belt.
 3. The machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said flexible endless element comprises atleast two endless chains mounted parallel to one another and connectedby transverse bars spaced from each other and positioned perpendicularto said chains, each of said bars being equipped with a series of pins,said pins positioned adjacent to each other and spaced at regularintervals to form pin lines parallel to said chains, each pin beingdirected towards the surface of said endless conveyor belt.
 4. Themachine according to claim 3, wherein each pin comprises adjustmentmeans, for adjusting the height of each pin, its inclination withrespect to said surface of said conveyor belt and its spacing fromadjacent pins of said same transverse bar.
 5. The machine according toclaim 3, wherein each chain comprises attachment means adapted to adjustsaid spacing between said transverse bars.
 6. The machine according toclaim 1, wherein said means for transporting said alveoli comprises atleast one endless chain carrying a series of pivotable levers each leverhaving two ends, one end journalled on said chain and the other endbeing adapted to carry at least one receptor alveolus, each lever beingequipped with at least one follower element adapted to follow a guidanceelement and adapted to cooperate with the follower element, each saidfollower element being integral with each respesctive lever to assure apredetermined inclination of said lever.
 7. The machine according toclaim 6, wherein said guidance element comprises a slide having variableinclination.
 8. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said depositmeans comprises:(a) a distributor element for distributing said productsfrom said endless conveyor belt (15), (b) a swivelling transfer slide,adapted to direct the products of the distributor element towards saidalveoli, and (c) control means to control said distributor element andsaid swivelling of said slide.
 9. The machine according to claim 8,wherein said distributor element comprises at least one pin wheelcomprising a drum having a peripheral surface and provided with pinspositioned radially to said peripheral surface of said drum, said pinsbeing regularly spaced and having a free end spaced from said conveyorbelt by a distance less than a thickness of said products.
 10. Themachine according to claim 8, wherein said control means of thedistributor element comprises a disk provided along the length of itsperiphery with at least one protruding element adapted to contact acomplimentary element connected to said distributor element, and adaptedto turn said distributor element through at least an arc correspondingto the distance between adjacent pins, said distance being substantiallyequal to the length of a transported product.
 11. The machine accordingto claim 9, wherein said at least one pin wheel comprises acomplementary element for each said pin positioned on a circle describedon said peripheral surface of said drum.
 12. The machine according toclaim 10, characterized in that said disk comprises a protruding elementfor each product to be deposited into said alveoli.
 13. The machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said deposit means comprises a central camand a lever associated with said cam and with a slide for transfer ofproducts, said lever being supported on said cam, said lever comprisingmeans for adjusting the inclination of said slide with respect to saidreceptor alveoli wherein said adjustment means comprises means forchanging the angular positio of the cam.
 14. The machine according toclaim 1, wherein said deposit means comprises a cushioning element ofsaid products, said cushioning element comprising at least one flexibleribbon free at one end and attached at its other end, wherein saidribbon hangs freely in each receptor alveoli when said alveoli ispositioned to receive said products.
 15. The machine according to claim1 comprising positioning means positioned on said conveyor belt forchannelling products and arranging them in columns.
 16. The machineaccording to claim 15 wherein said positioning means comprises alongitudinal fixed guide.
 17. The machine according to claim 8comprising a flap journalled on a fixed axis and comprising anadjustable weight for braking distribution of said products on saidslide.
 18. A machine for automatically positioning products in areceptor alveoli, said machine comprising at least one endless conveyorbelt for transporting said products, means for aligning said products onsaid endless conveyor belt, means for transporting said alveoli, meansfor depositing said products in said alveoli, said depositing meanscomprising a distribution element for distributing said products intosaid alveoli, controlling means for controlling said distributionelement, said distribution element comprising a rotatable drum having aperipheral surface and provided with radially positioned spaced apartpins, each pin having a free end spaced from said conveyor belt by adistance less than a thickness of said products, said drum furthercomprising a series of elements, one element corresponding to each ofsaid spaced apart pins, each element cooperating with a series ofelements positioned on said controlling means, each rotation of saiddrum filling one receptor alveoli.
 19. The machine according to claim 18wherein said endless conveyor belt and said means for aligning aredriven in opposite directions.
 20. The machine according to claim 18wherein said means for aligning is positioned parallel above saidendless conveyor belt.
 21. The machine according to claim 20 whereinsaid aligning means comprise at least one flexible endless element and aseries of pins positioned on said flexible endless element.
 22. Themachine according to claim 21 wherein said flexible endless elementcomprises at least two endless chains, each chain mounted parallel toeach other and connected by transverse bars spaced from each other andpositioned perpendicular to said chains.
 23. The machine according toclaim 22 wherein said series of pins is positioned on said transversebars.
 24. The machine according to claim 23 wherein each pin of saidseries of pins comprises adjustment means for adjusting the height ofsaid pins and inclination with respect to said endless conveyor belt andthe spacing between adjacent pins.
 25. The machine according to claim 18comprising positioning means positioned on said endless conveyor beltfor channeling products and arranging them in columns.
 26. The machineaccording to claim 25 wherein said positioning means comprises at leasttwo longitudinal fixed guides.